Fluid package and dispenser



Nov. 1, 1966 w. o. HARDER' FLUID PACKAGE AND DISPENSER INVENTOR FiledNOV. 17, 1965 ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,282,475 FLUID PACKAGEAND DISPENSER Warren 0. Harder, 561 Prospect Ave., Rivervale, NJ. FiledNov. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 508,216 4 Claims. (Cl. 222399) This inventionrelates to improvements in packaging and dispensing fluids. Moreparticularly, it relates to an improved dispenser of fluids wherein apredetermined volume of fluid may be stored under normal atmosphericpressure, and, when used, may be dispensed under low pressure controlledflow.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel dispenser of fluidsin the low pressure range consisting of fluid container of predeterminedvolume combined with fluid discharge and pressurizing means in a unitarycooperative structural organization to facilitate self administration ofnon-toxic solutions, sterile medicaments or biological media and otherfluids where a relative low pressure flow thereof in dispensing isdesired.

Other uses and advantages of the invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the arts from the following detailed description of anembodiment thereof and by reference to the drawing forming part of thespecification, and wherein FIGURE 1 is a median longitudinal crosssection of an embodiment of the invention in a fluid package anddispenser.

FIGURE 2 is a cross section as in FIG. 1 but showing actuation of thepressurizing means. FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross section showing thedischarge unit in modified form.

Having reference to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows structural combination offluid container and associated closure and dispenser as in a prefilledstorage or shipping arrangement before usage. A fluid container 1 inbottle form of inert plastic material has its neck portion joined to andclosed by a pressurizing dispenser with the means for pressurizing inretracted position, such being normal position before pressurization anduse in dispensing fluid.

A stand tube structure of holder 2 and tube 3 extends within thecontainer substantially to the bottom of the container but spacedtherefrom at the open end of the tube. The tube holder has at the outerend a flat surface annular flange 4 with a marginal portion thereofoverlying the end of the container neck, pressurization and flow offluid from the container being thus confined to passage through thestand tube structure.

The intermediate connector and fluid discharge unit 5 is a moldedplastic body with two connector end portions and an intermediateoutwardly extending spout portion formed at its delivery end to receivea conventional closure, not shown, or valved fluid connections, such as9, forming no part of the invention. A flat annular flange 6 at oneconnector end portion normally surmounts in registering and abuttingrelation flange 4 of the stand tube structure with a fluid passagethrough the unit and spout affording continuity of fluid dischargepassage from the container. Unit 5 and the stand tube structure aredetachably held together and in sealing connection with the container byattachment 7 in form of a centrally apertured cap having an annularinturned flange overlying flange 6 and a skirt portion provided inwardlythereof with screwthreads for mating engagement with the threads on thecontainer neck portion, turning of the attachment 7 being effective indrawing the flanges 4- and 6 into tight abutting engagement and insealing engagement with the end of the container. Such is the relationof the cooperative structures when in use or ready for use. However,when serving as a prefilled package for storing fluids or in shipping,passage or discharge of fluid from the con- 3,282,475 Patented Nov. 1,1966 tainer is prevented by a removable flat plastic sealing disk 21clamped between flanges 4 and 6 having a marginal finger tab 22facilitating removal of the disk by disconnecting the unit andcontainer, removing the sealing disk and reconnecting the parts. Unit 5has its other connector end provided with outer screwthreads formedtherein extending inwardly of the body from its end, and, inwardly ofthe threads in spaced relation an annular outer recess forming seat fora ring gasket 10 of rubber or other suitable composition. A relativelyrestricted gas passage extends centrally through this end portion of theunit into open connection with the fluid passage between the containerand spout. Unit 5 interconnects the container and a pressurizing capsule11 precharged with gas, such as CO or the like, at predeterminedpressure compatible with container volume and character of the fluid tobe dispensed.

Capsule 11 constitutes means in the combination whereby fluid undernormal atmospheric pressure in the container may be subjected topressure for dispensing in low pressure flow. The capsule comprises ahollow cylindrical body of inert plastic composition having an open endportion in adjustable threaded connection with the threaded end of unit5 and an opposite closed end portion of smaller diameter defining thepressurized gas chamber. Within the capsule substantially at juncture ofthe smaller and larger portion there is formed a flat annular shoulder,and spaced outwardly therefrom an annular projection 12 between whichand the shoulder is held a partitioning centrally apertured valve seat13 the peripheral part of which is lodged between the shoulder and theannular projection. A metal or other stiff and strong materialcompression band 20 overlies the valve seat position on the outside ofthe capsule by way of reinforcement. Inwardly at the gas chamber end ofthe capsule there is formed a projection 14 to center a helical spring15 engaged thereover and under tension bearing at its other end on avalve body 16 having a projection 17 within the spring and an outwardlyextending valve stem 18 fluted and extending through the centrallyapertured valve seat. The valve is so shaped as to have its outer edgeface portion form a tight sealing engagement with the valve seat underpressure of the spring enhanced by pressure of gas within the chamber.The outer end of the valve stem is beveled at 19 to provide passage ofgas and a point contact of the stem with the unit 5 at one side of therestricted gas passage. The internal threads of the attachment end ofthe capsule stop short end of the capsule so as to leave therein asmooth inner end surface for engagement with the gasket 10. This is thenormal position of the capsule and valve stem, namely, with the valveclosed and the capsule retracted in an unpressurized condition of thepackage combination. However, when the capsule 11 is turned in itsthreaded connection with the unit to move the capsule down on thethreads, the valve stem engages the end of unit 5 to displace the valvefrom its seat with resultant pressurization within the combinedstructure. In the inward movement of the capsule, the smooth inner endsurface thereof engages over the gasket 10 to otherwise seal thecombination. When the capsule is moved to the position of retraction inits connection with unit 5, the valve closes automatically under thespring and gas pressure in the chamber.

The capsule is shown in the turned down position in FIGS. 2 and 3 withthe valve displaced from its seat to allow gas flow past the valve bodyand fluted stem through the apertured valve seat. FIG. 3 shows amodified form of intermediate connector and fluid discharge unit 5wherein the stand tube holder is an integral part of the unit. Otherwisethe capsule and unit combination is as hereinbefore described. Thecapsule may be recharged from a gas source under pressure throughsuitable connector means not shown.

Operation of the invention is clear from the foregoing description. Inthe fluid package dispenser of FIG. 1, the capsule and discharge unitcombination is disconnected from the container, the sealing disk isremoved, and the capsule and unit is again connected with the container.In fluid dispensing, the capsule is merely turned to the down or inwardposition as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 2 wherein gas from the capsule isreleased to pressurize the entire combination in desired low pressurerange to cause even flow of fluid in its use.

In the foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention wordsemployed as those of description rather than of limitation forstructural modifications within the purview of the appended claims arecontemplated without departure from the true scope and spirit of theinvention. Having described the invention in accordance with statutoryrequirement, I claim 1. In a combined fluid package and dispenser, afluid container having a fluid entry and discharge neck portion withexterior fastening means for association with a connected unit, fluiddispensing means detachably joined with the neck portion of thecontainer, said dispenser means including a stand tube structure havinga stand tube extension within the container to a point closely adjacentthe container bottom but spaced therefrom and having at its outer end aflat surface annular flange overlying with its marginal edge portion theend of the container neck portion, an intermediate connector and fluiddischarge unit having opposite connnector end portions and anintermediate spout portion, one end portion of said unit having a flatsurface annular flange in overlying abutting engagement with the flangeend of the stand tube structure and a surrounding rotatable means havingan inturned flange engaged behind the annular flange of said unit and askirt portion with means engaged with the associated fastening means onthe container neck portion holding the unit in tight sealed connectionwith the container, the other or outer end of the unit having outerscrewthreads and a spaced annular recess formed therein, a ring gasketsurrounding the end portion and seated in said recess, said unit havinga fluid passage in conductive registry with the passage through thestand tube extended through the spout portion and a relativelyrestricted centrally disposed passage for gas through the other endportion in open connection with said fluid passage, and a precharged gaspressure capsule in adjustable screwthreaded connection with thethreaded end of the unit, said capsulecomprising a hollow cylindricalplastic composition body defining a closed end gas chamber in one endportion and an open end attachment portion of larger diameter withinternal screw threads formed therein adjustably connected with the unitscrewthreads, said attachment portion having a smooth inner end surfaceoutwardly of the screw threads and inwardly of the screwthreads andsubstantially at the juncture of the smaller and larger diameterportions with an annular inner projection and a spaced flat surfaceannular shoulder, a centrally apertured partitioning valve seat having aperipheral portion thereof held between said shoulder and projection, areinforcing compression band surrounding the capsule at position of thevalve seat, a movable valve within the gas chamber having a fluted stemwith beveled end extending through the valve seat aperture into the openattachment end of the capsule in position to engage the end of said unitat one side of the restricted passage, and a helical tensioned springbetween the closed end of the gas chamber and the valve holding thevalve seated on the valve seat sealing gas within the chamber when thecapsule is in a retracted position in its connection with the unit, saidcapsule being movable from the retracted position inwardly on the unitto engage the gasket and displace the valve from its seat to pressurizethe combination.

2. A fluid package and dispenser as structurally defined in claim 1including a removable flat sealing disk with a marginal fingerhold tabthereon, said disk being clamped between the flanges of the stand tubeand the connector and fluid discharge unit.

3. A fluid dispenser as otherwise defined in claim 1 but having theintermediate connector and discharge unit provided with a tubularextension within the container and a stand tube connected to andsupported by said extenslon.

4. A fluid package and dispenser as structurally defined in claim 1having a prefillcd container of predetermined volume and a capsule ofpredetermined capacity and pressurization to cause discharge of the saidvolume of material from the container in steady low pressure flow.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 879,604 2/1908Wawrzinski 222400.7 2,222,247 11/1940 Ward 2225 2,822,002 2/ 1958 Mack222389 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A COMBINED FLUID PACKAGE AND DISPENSER, A FLUID CONTAINER HAVING AFLUID ENTRY AND DISCHARGE NECK PORTION WITH EXTERIOR FASTENING MEANS FORASSOCIATION WITH A CONNECTED UNIT, FLUID DISPENSING MEANS DETACHABLYJOINED WITH THE NECK PORTION OF THE CONTAINER, SAID DISPENSER MEANSINCLUDING A STAND TUBE STRUCTURE HAVING A STAND TUBE EXTENSION WITHINTHE CONTAINER TO A POINT CLOSELY ADJACENT THE CONTAINER BOTTOM BUTSPACED THEREFROM AND HAVING AT ITS OUTER END A FLAT SURFACE ANNULARFLANGE OVERLYING WITH ITS MARGINAL EDGE PORTION THE END OF THE CONTAINERNECK PORTION, AN INTERMEDIATE CONNECTOR AND FLUID DISCHARGE UNIT HAVINGOPPOSITE CONNECTOR AND FLUID DISCHARGE UNIT MEDIATE SPOUT PORTION, ONEEND PORTION OF SAID UNIT HAVING A FLAT SURFACE ANNULAR FLANGE INOVERLYING ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FLANGE END OF THE STAND TUBESTRUCTURE AND A SURROUNDING ROTATABLE MEANS HAVING AN INTURNED FLANGEENGAGED BEHIND THE ANNULAR FLANGE OF SAID UNIT AND A SKIRT PORTION WITHMEANS ENGAGED WITH THE ASSOCIATED FASTENING MEANS ON THE CONTAINER NECKPORTION HOLDING THE UNIT IN TIGHT SEALED CONNECTION WITH THE CONTAINER,THE OTHER OR OUTER END OF THE UNIT HAVING OUTER SCREWTHREADS AND ASPACED ANNULAR RECESS FORMED THEREIN, A RING GASKET SURROUNDING THE ENDPORTION AND SEATED IN SAID RECESS, SAID UNIT HAVING A FLUID PASSAGE INCONDUCTIVE REGISTRY WITH THE PASSAGE THROUGH THE STAND TUBE EXTENDEDTHROUGH THE SPOUT PORTION AND A RELATIVELY RESTRICTED CENTRALLY DISPOSEDPASSAGE FOR GAS THROUGH THE OTHER END PORTION IN OPEN CONNECTION WITHSAID FLUID PASSAGE, AND A PRECHARGED GAS PRESSURE CAPSULE IN ADJUSTABLESCREWTHREADED CONNECTION WITH THE THREADED END OF THE UNIT, SAID CAPSULECOMPRISING A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL PLASTIC COMPOSITION BODY DEFINING ACLOSED END GAS CHAMBER IN ONE END PORTION AND